A Princeton-led team has built a tabletop device that generates voltage directly from Earth’s rotation through its magnetic field. While the power output is orders of magnitude too small for practical electronics, the breakthrough suggests Earth’s spin could someday provide constant, fuel-free energy if the effect scales up. The team is now calling for independent labs to reproduce the results.
Well, only if it scares you 😉.
But seriously, I don’t think It’s really anything to worry about. It was pointed out that other forms of energy generation, like wind or tidal, or hydroelectric can have this same effect of slowing planetary rotation (Hydroelectric has actually had measurable effects on the rotational velocity, there were studies). Likewise, geothermal power accelerates core cooling (nominally). Which ultimately could also mean our demise. So we don’t really have better options.
But all of this is so long term, none of it would matter for hundreds of thousands of generations of humans. And to be quite honest, I will assert right now that in hundreds of thousands of generations, the human race will have both different means of power generation and different planets to live on. (Or we won’t still be around and it’s all moot.)
So no, no reason for anyone to worry about this, maybe ever.
I guess this is something important to point out when saying something may drastically affect our lives.
The scale of the effects and their expected outcomes are actually important.
Sure, so I mentioned it.
Look, I try to keep my comments brief whenever I can. Totally feel free to ask a followup question if you think I left something important out.
No, your responses were great and clear.